BIANCA SFORZA 
grew steadily worse, until at five o’clock this evening 
she ended her life on earth. This event has caused 
us the most unutterable grief, both for the loss of 
such a daughter and because the blow was so sudden 
and unexpected. We know that it will be a great 
shock to your heart, but we must bear with patience 
the trials that are sent us here, and bow to the 
unalterable laws of nature. We entreat you, therefore, 
to bear this loss with patience and courage, and assure 
you that you will be no less beloved by us in future, 
than if Bianca were yet alive.” 1 
At the same time Lodovico sent a characteristic 
letter to his most trusted physician and astrologer, 
Maestro Ambrogio, begging him to make a careful 
inquiry into the causes of Bianca’s death, and express¬ 
ing his conviction that the Court doctors had mis¬ 
taken the nature of her ailment and had given her 
wine and other remedies, which being hurtful to the 
brain, only aggravated her condition and hastened the 
end. 
Beatrice’s grief for her step-daughter was scarcely 
less than that of her lord. During the last few 
months, her own life had been embittered by the 
Duke’s sudden fancy for one of her youthful ladies- 
in-waiting, Lucrezia Crivelli, and the tears that she 
wept for Bianca were mingled with sorrowful fore¬ 
bodings of coming trouble. In a little note, written 
1 Archivio di Stato, Milan. Potenze Sovrane, Sforza, 1496. 
l 93 N 
